Real-time detection of microbial contamination

• Published in: IEEE engineering in medicine and biology magazine Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 122 - 129
• Main Authors: Hea-Young Kim, Estes, C.R., Duncan, A.G., Wade, B.D., Cleary, F.C., Lloyd, C.R., Ellis, W.R., Powers, L.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.01.2004; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Bioterrorism - prevention & control; Cardiac disease; Colony Count, Microbial - instrumentation; Colony Count, Microbial - methods; Contamination; DNA; Environmental Microbiology; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Equipment Design; Fluorescence; Fungi; Laboratories; Microbiological Techniques - instrumentation; Microbiological Techniques - methods; Microorganisms; Online Systems; Optical microscopy; Postal services; Production; Security Measures; Viruses - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0739-5175; 1937-4186
• DOI: 10.1109/MEMB.2004.1297183

We demonstrate the utility of this molecular engineering-based capture and detection technology for use in homeland defense. This capture technology can be placed on a "chip" where each section contains a different ligand. Intrinsic fluorescence is then used to monitor the binding of biomaterial in each section containing a ligand and determines the nature of the biomaterial (e.g., live bacterial cells, dead cells, spores, or tryptophan/tyrosine containing protein molecules).